Things to do in Indonesia
Looking for some information to make your Indonesia diving holiday run smoothly?
This section contains tourist information for your visit to the following locations:
Island of Paradise
Of dragons and myths...
The spice island of Celebes...
The rest of this page contains information about Indonesia:
 View a map of Indonesia
Tourist Security and Safety
We have to admit to having a vested interest in encouraging you to visit Indonesia but that does not extend to recklessly advising you to go to a place of danger.
We consider Indonesia a safe place for tourists to travel. All qualified divers will know from their training that the best way to deal with a potentially risky situation is (stop, breathe, think, act) to make an informed and rational evaluation before taking action. We think that once you've weighed up the risks you'll agree that Indonesia poses no greater concerns to responsible and aware travellers than most places, and certainly no more than, say, New York, Florida, Oklahoma or Spain for example.
Indonesia is a massive, developing country full of contrasts and like all such places exposed to social diversity, has some huge problems. This does mean that there are high risk areas for any tourist to visit. Aceh Province on the northern tip of Sumatra, for example, and downtown Jakarta at night, are examples of places to keep clear of. Beyond these we feel there is little cause for excessive concern.
Indonesia does not have a track record of security concerns for tourists, though you might be mistaken for thinking otherwise given recent events. The tourist bombings in Bali and the bombing in Jakarta in 2002 and 2003 made such big news partly because they were so unusual. Since these events, and given the importance of tourism to Bali, the heightened level of security present in tourist areas means that it has never been safer to travel here.
Dive the World has travelled to all the tourist areas described in this section and never experienced threats of any kind and indeed have never had any customers report safety or security concerns (so far!). The negative headlines are borne of the actions of a tiny minority. The general sense that tourists get from visiting the country is one of warmth, hospitality and cultural richness. Blindly following all warnings issued by authorities these days, we sometimes wonder how people ever leave their homes!
General Information
This section contains information about:
About Indonesia
Indonesia is the world's most expansive archipelago, stretching east to west almost 5,000km from Sumatra to Irian Jaya, and north to south almost 1,800km from the Sabah - Kalimantan border to Roti Island off Timor.
There are 13,677 islands (we didn't count them) of which 6,000 are inhabited. While the total area covered by Indonesia, including sea, would swallow Australia 2½km times over, the actual land mass is only three times that of Texas. Given that the country consists of such a large area of crystalline waters studded with tropical islands, it is little wonder that it is so highly thought of by experienced divers or that Indonesia liveaboards are deemed by many to be second to none.
Most of the country's islands are mountainous, some so high as to be snow capped, with volcanoes running like a backbone through the country. It's this volcanic ash that gives Indonesian soil its rich fertility, spawning such an amazing diversity of flora and fauna including the world's biggest flower the rafflesia and the mighty Komodo dragon.
The People of Indonesia
 The 202 million people of Indonesia make it the fourth most populous nation on earth, 128 million on Java alone. There are 300 ethnic groups speaking 365 languages and dialects, though most are of Malay descent and speak the national language, Bahasa Indonesia.
Islam is the predominant religion, though religious tolerance is vigorously pursued by the authorities. Christianity is strong in some eastern areas such as Flores, Hinduism in Bali and Animism remains in Sumba and Irian Jaya.
Climate
 Straddling the equator, Indonesia tends to have a very even climate. High rainfall and tropical heat lend a high humidity and mean that most of the country is covered in tropical rainforest - an area second largest only to Brazil. The wet season runs from October to April, with rain falling in short and sudden downpours interrupted with sunshine. The dry season is from May to September.
However, Indonesia is spread over such a vast area that excellent diving is to be found in one destination or another all year round. Check our Indonesia dive site descriptions for diving seasons.
Health
Common but avoidable health concerns are contaminated food, water and ice that can lead to diarrhoea, dehydration and hepatitis A or E. Make sure you drink only bottled drinking water.
Fungal infections are also very common. Wear loose clothes, wash frequently, and dry yourself carefully.
Indonesia is a malarial area in general, but some areas such as Bali are mainly malaria-free. It is also worth remembering that they are not too many mosquitoes at sea so it's highly unlikely you'll catch malaria on an Irian Jaya or Bali liveaboard cruise.
Self-diagnosis and treatment of any medical problem can be risky, so you should always seek medical help.
It's recommended that you seek medical advice about immunisations at least six weeks before you travel. Discuss your trip with your doctor and set out your vaccination requirements.
Tourist Visas
In February 2004 changes were made to the visa regulations. We summarise them below but advise you to check your own position again prior to your trip.
11 countries are eligible for a 30 day stay, with a free permit issued on arrival. They are: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Chile, Morocco, Peru and Vietnam. Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months.
21 countries are eligible for a 30 day visa on arrival costing $25. They are: United States, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Hungary, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Norway, France, Poland, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Taiwan. You must:
• hold a passport with at least six months remaining validity at the time of arrival
• present a completed embarkation/disembarkation card provided by the airlines
• be able to demonstrate sufficient means to live during your stay in Indonesia
• not be listed on any official blacklist of individuals prohibited from entering the country
• pay the stipulated fee to obtain a visa.
Initially the visa on arrival will only be obtainable at certain gateways:
• Airports: Medan, Pekanbaru, Padang, Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali and Manado
• Seaports: Batam, Tanjung Uban (Bintan), Belawan (Medan), Sibolga (Sumatra), Dumai, Teluk Bayar (Padang, Sumatra), Padang Bai (Bali), and Jayapura (Papua)
If you come from a country NOT listed above, or you wish to stay for more than 30 days then you must obtain your visa overseas before arriving in Indonesia. For Portuguese and Israeli nationals there are other specific requirements.
Time Zones
There are three time zones in Indonesia - +7 hrs GMT for Java, Sumatra and west and central Kalimantan, +8 hrs GMT for Bali, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and south and east Kalimantan, and +9 hrs GMT for Maluku and Irian Jaya.
Business Hours
Banks are open Monday to Friday from 08:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs and in some places on Saturdays until around 11:00 hrs.
Electricity
Electricity is 220v / 50 Hz AC. Sockets accommodate two round prongs - the same as in most European countries. It's advisable to bring your own plug adaptor kit if required. Power is usually reliable but there are occasional blackouts.
Photographic Facilities
Most popular brands and types of film are widely available in Indonesia. If special equipment is required then bringing it with you is probably the best option as supplies are limited.
Postal Services
Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 08:00 hrs to 15:00 hrs and Saturday until around 13:00 hrs. In the larger cities main post offices are often open extended hours- until 20:00 hrs or later, including Sundays. Indonesian postal services are unreliable. Important items can be sent by express mail service (EMS). This is faster and safer but the cost is higher.
Telephone Services
Kantor Telkom, the government-run telecommunications company, has offices in many cities and towns. Most of these are open 24 hours and are the cheapest places to make international and long distance calls. For international direct dialling use 001 + country code + area code + phone number.
E-mail Services
Internet cafes are popular in the main cities and tourist areas but connection speeds are slow.
Codes of Behaviour
Indonesians make allowances for western ways, especially in the main tourist areas, but there are a few things to bear in mind when dealing with people.
The left hand is considered unclean as it is used to wash after visiting the toilet, so never hand over or receive things with this hand as it will be viewed as offensive. Shake hands, right handed of course, when introduced to anyone when both arriving and leaving.
A person's head is regarded as the seat of the soul and therefore sacred, so to touch somebody on their head will also cause offence.
Talking to someone with your hands on hips is considered a sign of contempt, anger or aggression. It's rude to point with your fingers so rather beckon someone with your palm down - a bit like waving your dog to heal!
When eating with Indonesians do wait until you are asked to begin by your host, and it is also considered impolite to refuse a drink.
Tipping and bargaining
Tipping is not normal practice in Indonesia, but is expected for special service. Generally if someone goes to extra trouble for you a tip is welcome.
Bargaining is common game in Indonesia with the exception of diving (of course!), restaurant meals, transport and sometimes accommodation, where the fee is generally fixed.
When bargaining, unless you're sure about the price you want to pay, it's probably best to ask the seller their asking price. Your response could be anything from a third to two-thirds of this price. Try not to show too much interest and keep it on a friendly level. Be prepared to walk away and quite often you will be called back and offered the item for the price you previously offered.
Clothing
Indonesia is hot and humid so light, loose cotton clothing is most recommended. When exploring the night-life, tight dresses, shorts, and miniskirts are no problem. On the other hand, naked sunbathing or topless appearance in public places is considered offensive, more especially when you are outside of the tourist resort areas. The wearing of conservative clothing when entering a temple or mosque is a must.
Criminality
The vast majority of Indonesians are honest people with a strong sense of right and wrong. Tourism however does attract pickpockets and thieves the world over so to ensure an enjoyable stay, use some common sense. Be aware and don't leave valuables unattended.
Officials
Police corruption is widespread, however the chances are you will not have any dealings with them unless you are "guilty" of a traffic offence. You have two options - either pay the fine that goes and stays in the policeman's back pocket, or tough it out and run the risk of a very prolonged and arduous session at the local station. Show respect for the police and don't take an aggressive approach as it will only make matters worse.
Interested?
Are you interested? If you're keen to discover the unbelievably rich and varied waters of Indonesia, then click below to check your options now for:
Be sure to book up in plenty of time to avoid limited choice! The best Indonesia diving opportunities are booked by repeat customers who book well in advance to ensure their reservation!
|
